Reviewed By Eric Switzer. Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D returns this week from it’s midseason hiatus with all the charm, wit, development, and surprising moments that have come to define the series. Aftershocks begins with a flashback to Skye’s mother helping a newly transformed Inhuman cope with his new abilities/ lack of former abilities. Coupling this with Raina’s new look (I thought the effect was fantastic) bring a heightened level of danger to Skye’s new identity, who unlike the other two looks the same as before. Their extreme transformation suggests there is a lot more to Skye’s new shaky powers.
Speaking of shaky powers, Skye’s first demonstration happens unbeknownst to the group as they are all too busy shouting at one another in a scene that I can only assume is a nod to the scene in “Avengers” where the team argues in front of Loki’s staff. It was itself a successful scene, even if you think the “can’t control my new powers” bit is a little played out.
There was actually a fair amount of shouting in this episode. Some good, like Coulson’s declaration that he is going to go out there and crush Hydra (which had an awesome pay off) and some not so good, like Simmons new anti-super policy which, while certainly raising the stakes for Skye, struck me as a forced moment. Not that Elizabeth Henstridge didn’t provide a convincing performance, just that it is a little too convenient for her to take that position now especially after she’s been through so much worse. But it fills a need, so I won’t complain too much.
The shouting award has to go to Ian De Caestecker though, for the scene in which he realizes something is wrong with Skye. Personally I think Fitz is the most interesting and well acted character on the show, and his journey to recovery this season has been absolutely heart wrenching. His was fractured way of communicating is so interesting, and seeing him struggle to express something so crucial and terrible to Skye was easily the best moment of the episode.
I mentioned the pay off earlier and I’ve got say again how epically this episode delivers in Hydra carnage. Coulson said goodbye to Mr. Nice Guy when this season started and is finally making rolling up his sleeves and plowing some Hydra ass. I love how much momentum this show has, and though so far it has only served to react to the events in the MCU films, I think we are at a point where the show will be effecting things throughout the franchise, and that is very exciting.
I don’t know what Mac and Bobbi are up too, and frankly that type of heavy handed plot setup is annoying to me. I hope it leads somewhere interesting, but I doubt it. Aside from these mostly ignorable “network TV” moments, I found “Aftershocks” to be as strong as “S.H.I.E.L.D.” has ever been.
What did you think of Aftershocks? Are you happy to see the Inhumans make their way into the MCU?
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Eric Switzer is an aspiring filmmaker and screenplay writer living in Los Angeles. His work tends to focus on the lighter side of entropy, dystopic futures, and man’s innate struggle with his own mortality. He can be found on twitter @epicswitzer or reached via email at ericswitzerfilm@gmail.com.